The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Donna Pindell, The Quill
JUDY AVERY
Judy (Mickey) Avery was raised in Gulfport by her parents Don and Mavis Mickey who are both deceased.
She graduated from Union High School in 1977. In 1980, she married Bob Avery of Stronghurst and the couple lives in the north part of town.
Judy graduated from Carl Sandburg College in 1997 with her LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) and from Southeastern Community College in 2008 as a RN (Registered Nurse).
Judy worked at Oak Lane Nursing and Rehab in Stronghurst for 20 years before going to the Henderson County Health Department in Gladstone where she has been for the past 11 years. She is Director of Nursing for home health and hospice at HCHD.
She also assists at Oak Wood Estates Retirement facility in Stronghurst.
Judy and Bob have a son Bobby and a daughter Renee. Renee has two sons and a daughter, Lexis, Gavin and Silas Waddell and Bobby has a daughter Reese Avery.
Judy enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. She is also an avid reader.
Family traditions are important to her. The family continues holiday traditions with her brothers John and Donald and sisters Gail and Kelly even though her parents are gone.
A quote that she stands by is "Never criticize someone because you never know what they are going through."
Being a nurse and an essential worker, Judy must stay updated on the guidelines and she says it is especially hard with the amount of change each day during this quarantine time. There are briefings every day from the Illinois Department of Health officials that they must implement. But one thing is constant: "Keep your mask on, wash your hands, social distance and remember anyone can get the Covid 19 virus," Judy said.